Proposed California bill, SB 1262, would ban marijuana concentrates in the state if passed

A proposed bill would make it difficult to smoke marijuana in California.

A new California bill, if passed, would ban marijuana concentrates. The bill, SB 1262, which Senator Lou Correa introduced, would put popular marijuana concentrates out of business and help to regulate the state’s medical marijuana industry.

LA Weekly also reports that the ban would keep physicians from being able to recommend concentrates that have been extracted by using butane, a method that may lead to various health concerns and catastrophes similar to meth lab explosions.

Police have expressed concern that people who are using the concentrates are doing so to get high, paying no regard to their health or safety.

John Lovell, government relations manager for the Police Chiefs Association, says, “There’s no medicinal value to high-THC concentrates like butane hash oil, and we don’t believe it’s part of the array of legitimate medical marijuana.”

The proposed law states that, “Under no circumstances shall a physician and surgeon recommend butane hash oil.” The Police Chiefs Association offered its own interpretation that, “…Physicians may not recommend high concentrate derivatives such as Butane Hash Oil (a chemical derivative of marijuana that can contain 80% THC) to anyone.”

Concentrates now make up nearly 40% of that state’s dispensary sales. Related products, including waxes and oils, are often used with pen vaporizers that have a very similar appearance to ordinary e-cigarettes.

Tim Cromartie, lobbyist for League of California Cities, told LA Weekly that, “The intent was to restrict access to concentrates because they tend to have a much higher THC quantity. That was a provision added at the express request of the police chiefs.”

Kris Hermes, spokesperson for Americans for Safe Access, said that the bill does not include concentrates that have been extracted for healthier and safer use, including CO2 and non-solvent extraction.

Hermes notes, “Whether or not the right procedure is trying to restrict physicians from recommending or prohibiting butane extract is the question.” Hermes continues to say that although the organization is “certainly concerned for patient safety,” they “want to make sure concentrated cannabis is still available to patients.”